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Sunday, April 1, 2012

Cassoulet with Lots of Vegetables

Hey
guys! It’s a Food Matter’s Project Monday and the beginning of my spring break!
This week’s recipe, Cassoulet with Lots
of Vegetables, was chosen by Keely Marie. Head on over to her beautiful
website for the full recipe of this rustic dish. Also, don’t forget to check
out the Food Matter’s Project website to see what amazing creations the other
members did.

So…
veering off a bit to give an update of some events… I’m still not a
millionaire, but I did finish the race without falling off the mountain. This
past Saturday, I raced in the Badger Mountain Challenge 15k. It was my very
first race ever and although I was jittery the day before, I decided to just
have a good time that morning. It was cold and windy, certainly not the best weather for
racing up a mountain. I started about 5 minutes late because I needed to use
the bathroom. Racing with a full bladder wouldn’t have been fun. After the
potty stop, off I went running up the hill to start… then I slowed down and
just hiked fast. I thought it would be best to save my breath for later because
the first uphill was tough. The downhill run was pretty smooth. DFJ was down at
the bottom cheering me on and that gave me the will to run on the paved road
that followed on the way to the other side of the mountain. Let me tell you, I
have never ran farther than 4 miles at one time… so I was quite surprised at
how I just kept going. There was about a mile or two of dirt path that
followed, which was a relief for my tired feet. The ground was soft and cushy.
Before I knew it, we were going up the other side of the mountain… I slowed to
a hike, which was essential to keep myself from fainting. The sun shone for a
little bit and cast a beautiful glow at the orchards below us. It was quite a
spectacular view! Then, as fast as it came, it disappeared and I started
feeling cold and had a stomach cramp going downhill. I just wanted to be done
and kept going, going, and… I made it. Official time: 2:09:47.

Anyhoo,
back to this dish… I stayed pretty close to the recipe and was very pleased
with the result. It is very similar to last week’s Vegetables au Vin with Coq. Simple,
hearty, filling, and very flavorful. I especially love the chickpeas in it and
the smoky finish that cayenne added to the broth!

Here
are the few changes I made:

I
cooked 2 cups of dry chickpeas with 3 cups chicken stock, ¾ cup tomato juice,
and ¼ cup of water on medium low heat for a long time until the chickpeas were
done. At some point, the beans looked dry, so I added ½ cup of water and a pinch of salt to taste.

Usually,
I veer away from sausages because all the fat that comes out just grosses me
out (the eating it part, not so much), but for this cassoulet, I used this Al Fresco Chicken Sausage. This brand has 70% less fat and does not use any
artificial ingredients… score!

Asparagus
was used in lieu of zucchini and an extra can of tomatoes was dumped in
addition to the diced fresh tomatoes. The bay leaves were accidentally
forgotten, but it was still good. Also, because the sausages I used did not
render any fat, I added half a tablespoon of butter for that silky broth
texture.

I am so glad you made it to the end of the race! As for the rich, you are rich, if you are healthy enough to race and you are as happy as I saw you in the picture then you are trully rich. Money makes our lives easier but do not bring happiness. The dish looks really hearty and comforting Margarita and with all the veggies very nutritious as well!

About Me

Hello, my name is Margarita. I try to live a healthy lifestyle by eating well and working out. I am a cooking enthusiast and I like sharing my love for good food. Most of my recipes contain lots of vegetables and perhaps a bit of meat here and there. Staying active is one of the things that keep me sane. I love doing yoga, walking, hiking, biking, lifting weights, and occasional running. Join me in my food, travel, and life adventures and together let's eat well, cook right, live strong, and be healthy!